Texas Woman Charged with Importing Fentanyl, Meth into U.S.

ALPINE, Texas – A Presidio County woman was indicted in federal court in Alpine Thursday on charges related to importing and possessing methamphetamine and fentanyl with intent to distribute.

Court documents allege that Cherakee Lee Perez, 32, provided a negative declaration during a Customs and Border Patrol vehicle inspection at the Presidio Port of Entry from Mexico into the U.S.  A narcotic detection canine discovered more than three dozen packages hidden in the vehicle.  29 of packages contained approximately 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, while the other 13 contained seven kilograms of fentanyl. 

Perez is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and fentanyl and one count of importation of methamphetamine and fentanyl. The defendant made her initial court appearance January 17 before U.S. Magistrate Judge David B. Fannin of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola of the Homeland Security Investigations El Paso Division made the announcement.

HSI is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Greenbaum is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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